Free The Last Disciple by Sigmund Brouwer Page A

shielding the baby from the fall with her own body. She shrieked with pain as she landed on her shoulder.
    “Behind me,” she gasped, lying on the ground beside Maglorius and Titus. “Three against one.”
    “I beg you,” Titus said to Maglorius. “You did not hear me beg for my life, but I beg you to allow me to help my friend.”
    Before Maglorius could answer, the fight was upon them.

    “I don’t understand why you won’t agree to the terms given you by the bestiarius.” Leah was in tears again. She’d delivered to Nathan the offer, and he in turn had spoken to the others. Now he was in front of her again.
    “The children will be saved,” Nathan said. “But I will not become a slave.”
    “As a slave, at least you’ll still be alive. Our family can find a way to purchase your freedom.”
    “Could I live in peace,” he answered, “knowing that I, of all the men and women in this cell, am the only one to flee from the chance to stand strong against tribulation?”
    “This is your life!”
    “‘The people who are destined for prison will be arrested and taken away,’” Nathan whispered. He’d reached through the bars with both hands and gently cradled her face. “‘Those who are destined for death will be killed. But do not be dismayed, for here is your opportunity to have endurance and faith.’ These are the words of John, the last disciple of our Savior. We are living through the Great Tribulation, and he has given us comfort.”
    “I don’t understand,” Leah pleaded, grasping her brother’s wrists and keeping his hands pressed against her cheeks. “I’ve explained how you can arrange it so you don’t need to face the lions tomorrow. You can change your destiny.”
    “What is our destiny?” Nathan asked. “For all of us, is it not death?” He answered his own question. “I’m not afraid of dying, Leah. I am afraid that my family will never understand what faith in Jesus means. The real tragedy is not to die young. The real tragedy is to live a long life and never use it in service of the Master. If my death leads you to eternal life—”
    “Live! Live among us! Teach us this faith.”
    Nathan shook his head. “I’ve done everything I can to show you and our father and Caleb already. If you understand that I’m not afraid of death, I pray you’ll finally understand as well.”
    “Walk away from the arena! We need you.”
    “You are grown. Caleb is a fine young rabbi. Our father . . .”
    “. . . is heartbroken,” Leah finished for him. And feels utterly betrayed, she thought. So betrayed I was too afraid to let him know I’ve come here today.
    Nathan took a deep breath. He, too, was fighting tears. “I am heartbroken too. But if I have been called to be a witness in the arena with the others who believe, I cannot deny my Savior. And if Father will believe too, he is only a single heartbeat from joining me.”
    “A single heartbeat?”
    “His final heartbeat. I wish I could get you to understand the urgency. All that stands between each of us and the end of time is our last gasp of breath on this earth. Then we will be joined in triumph.” Nathan closed his eyes. “Or separated by the final battle as God destroys all those souls who have rejected Him. John gave us the vision of those times.”
    Nathan opened his eyes again. “You must believe, Leah. We must be on the same side when God judges the living and the dead. I am so certain of it that I do not fear tomorrow.”
    “Please. As your sister, I beg you. Take advantage of what the bestiarius offers. It is your life! Nothing can be more important than that.”
    “Faith is more important.” Nathan began to stroke Leah’s hair through the bars. “The others have agreed to what the bestiarius asked. The children will be spared. That is a far greater blessing than we could have expected. They will be spared and always remember the faith of their parents. Rejoice in that.”
    “I cannot.”
    “Then I ask this